| The Sun Belt sees it's fair share of shootouts, | | | | offensive linemen return, but that's all the Red |
| making for one of the more exciting conferences | | | | Wolves have to work with on offense. And they |
| in the country. Troy has won back-to-back titles, | | | | desperately need new skill players to step up |
| but they lose a lot of talent this season which | | | | after averaging just 22.7 PPG last year. Only 5 |
| could open the door for a few other teams. | | | | starters are back defensively as well, giving |
| Below I list my 2010 Sun Belt football predictions, | | | | Arkansas State just 10 returning starters to work |
| offering the finishing order of each team within | | | | with which won't be enough for them to compete |
| the conference. | | | | with the top tier of the Sun Belt. |
| Sun Belt Predictions: | | | | 6.) Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks - RB Frank Goodin |
| 1.) Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders - QB | | | | returns after rushing for 1,126 yards and 13 |
| Dwight Dasher is back after throwing for 2,789 | | | | touchdowns, so the offense is in good hands with |
| yards and 23 touchdowns while also rushing for | | | | him. QB Kolton Browning is an elite talent, but the |
| 1,153 more along with 13 scores. He is one of the | | | | defense is a concern with only 4 returning |
| few returning starting quarterbacks in this | | | | starters. |
| conference from an offense that put up 32.0 PPG | | | | 7.) North Texas Mean Green - 9 starters return |
| last year. 4 offensive linemen and most of their | | | | to an offense that put up some big numbers last |
| playmakers are back as well, so the offense | | | | season, including 40 points against Florida Atlantic |
| should pick up right where it left off. The defense | | | | and 68 points vs. Western Kentucky. The Mean |
| will be solid with 6 starters back from a unit that | | | | Green will put up plenty of points on the board, |
| gave up 23.7 PPG a year ago. The Blue Raiders | | | | but the defense gave up 35.6 PPG last year and if |
| get Troy at home on October 5th as well. | | | | they cannot improve the stop unit, then they |
| 2.) Troy Trojans - Only 5 starters return on | | | | won't be very competitive this season either. 7 |
| offense, and they lose Sun Belt Player of the | | | | starters return on defense. |
| Year in QB Levi Brown. The defense is an even | | | | 8.) Florida International Golden Panthers - The |
| bigger concern from a unit that gave up 29.8 PPG | | | | offense only put up 22.9 PPG last year, and once |
| in 2009 with only 3 starters returning. Larry | | | | again the offensive line is in shambles and the QB |
| Blakeney has proven he can recruit, and there will | | | | position is a major question mark. Not to mention, |
| be some talent here, just not enough to | | | | the defense is hurting with only 3 starters back. |
| overcome MTSU. | | | | The Panthers defense yielded 35.3 PPG last |
| 3.) Louisiana Rajin' Cajuns - QB Chris Masson is | | | | season. |
| back and the offense should be improved after | | | | 9.) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - It cannot get |
| scoring 22.2 PPG a year ago. The biggest | | | | any worse after an 0-12 season, and with 16 |
| improvement will come from a defense that | | | | starters back, the Hilltoppers should see some |
| allowed 30.3 PPG with 7 starters returning. This | | | | improvement. Plus, WKU came close to winning at |
| team went 4-4 in the Sun Belt last year and a | | | | the end of last year by concluding the '09 season |
| 5-3 mark this season will be good enough for | | | | with three straight losses by 6 points or less. It's |
| third. | | | | probably safe to say they will get a win or two |
| 4.) Florida Atlantic Owls - FAU gave up 33.8 PPG | | | | this season, but not much more. |
| last year, and the defense must improve with 8 | | | | Take a look at my overall 2010 college football |
| starters back. The defense should be fine with so | | | | predictions article to find out which teams have |
| much returning experience, but the offense is in | | | | the best shot at a national title this year. It also |
| shambles with only 3 starters back. The Owls | | | | shows which teams have the best chance to |
| must replace their entire offensive line. | | | | beat the college football odds come season's end. |
| 5.) Arkansas State Red Wolves - All five starting | | | | |
